🔗 Share this article

Just as bad weather hit the northern region the prior day, City blew United away at the their home ground. It was a emphatic three-nil win for the City coach's side due to goals from Knaak, Shaw and Hemp. It was a display that truly announced their title credentials as they consolidated their place at the top of the table.

Consecutive Defeats for United

This result marked back-to-back league setbacks for Marc Skinner’s side for the first time since last May, leaving them a significant margin off the league leaders with their title hopes severely dented.

United’s capability to juggle league and continental football with a thin team has been a widely debated issue since they earned a place in the UCL. Reviewing the calendar, it always seemed this was the matchday that would fully examine this ability. Unfortunately for the visitors, they appeared tired throughout, the memorable win against PSG clearly having had an impact.

Tactical Shifts

Marc Skinner had tried to rotate the squad with a a few adjustments. Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Dominique Janssen and Leah Galton all added freshness, although the omission of the on-form Malard to the substitutes caused surprise.

City, in comparison, have fewer loading concerns. The City coach made one adjustment from the previous win over Everton with Hemp making her first start since returning from a physical setback.

Dominant First Half

The trouble started to accumulate for the United boss and his side from the first whistle. This was a demonstration of the power from City whose dynamic forward line controlled and tore United open with a excellent opening period showing that saw them score three goals in 21 minutes.

This left the home team firmly in control and left United all at sea. In advance of this encounter, United had let in just few in this domestic competition but they collapsed in the wake of Manchester City's creative prowess.

Opening Threats

The omens came soon when Vivianne Miedema used her power to push Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot off target. Hemp was at the heart of everything early on, using the gap left by Jayde Riviere down the visitors' right side. Her crosses were causing problems and led to an opportunity for Hasegawa that Sandberg kicked off the line.

United had a number of sorties ahead, their direct style giving them options in the wings but they could not challenge Ayaka Yamashita. Manchester City, in the meantime, dominated possession, teasing their opposition and trying to lure them of their organization.

Triple Strike

They converted their dominance with almost half an hour played when Aoba Fujino won the hosts a set-piece. A ball to the far post was headed across goal by Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to head in. It was City’s 7th goal from a cross of the season.

They extended their cushion with another pair of goals just before the interval. When Rose was permitted to advance through the middle from defense, the play widened for the hosts. The influential Kerstin Casparij received possession on the wing before sending a accurate driven ball for Shaw to bundle home. A short time later, they had a additional score after a rapid turnover in the ball saw Lauren Hemp given the room to drive a shot home from outside the box.

After the Break

The clearest adjustment came from the United manager at the half-time as Melvine Malard came on for Terland but by this time it was too late to shift the momentum of the contest. Former City player Park came nearest, hitting the upright, but the visitors were offensively poor and did not manage to register a single shot on goal.

The hosts, in contrast, could have extended their lead when a superb Miedema long ball sent Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it was insignificant to the winning team. Previously unable to defeat any side who placed above them the previous campaign, Jeglertz’s side now have successes against the Gunners and Manchester United to position them in a commanding standing after the opening fixtures.